Method and machine for converting carbon dioxide to a solid



Sept. 27,1927. T B SLATE 1,643,590

METHOD A-ND MACHINE' FOR CONVERTING CARBON DIOXIDE TO A SOLID FiIed June 10, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Afl Bzwfgq/ MT A ORNEY.

Se t. 27 1927.

p T. B. sLATE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR OONVERTING CARBON DIOXIDE To A SOLID Filed June l0, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l f/ y LZ/L'g. Z. v Z0 A l 3l 'N y 37 IN V EN TOR.

7770ma5 B ,SIG fe,

A TTORNEY.

` I 1 643,590 Sept. 27, 1927. T. B. SLATE a METHOD ND MACHINE FOR CONVERTING CARBON DIOXIDE T0 A SOLID Filed June 10, 1924 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN1/Emme.

ThomasBS/ai'e,

ATTORNEY.

Patented sept. l27, 19,27.

UNITED STATES 'P'ArENT oEEicE.

Tnoius B. sm'rn, or Nnwronx, N.I'Y., AssIoNon.' BY MEsNE Assiemivrs, 'ronr- CORPORATION, 0l' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- METHODA AND MACHINE FOB CONVEBTIII G GAI-BRON'. DIOXIDE T0 A SOLID.

j Application lcd J'nne 10, 1924. Serialv No. 719,198.

7fthe object of my invention is to provide an improved method or processfor expandY ing liquid carbon dioxide or other .suitable gas such as highly compressed nitrogen, air,

etc. lgior refrigeration and other purposes and particularly for converting liquid carbon dioxide into'a solid; to provide an improved and highly eilicient 'machine for carrying outthe process; to provide a novel process "and ap aratus adapted to utilize both the latent eat of evaporation and the reduction of heat produced-by the expansion of the carbon dioxide gas to produce refrigeration; to utilize energy obtained from the carbon dioxide to operate the machine; to provide novel means for automatic operation of my` preferred form of apparatus; to provide :means for returning surplus carbon dioxide to the source of supply both utilizing its lowered temperature to facilitate the re` L Atriger'ation process and using it over again for refrigeration, whereby to'increasethe eciency of the machine. It is an important object of my invention to include in .the machine eicient apparatus for compressing the carbon dioxide snow produced into a compact dense mass which can be conveniently handled. It is also my object to provide the novel combination and arrangement of mechanism in my preferred form of appara'tus disclosedin the accompanying-drawings, in whichc y Figure 1 is a side elevation of my preerred form of apparatus; I Fig. 2 is an edge or end view of saine;A

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section of the lower part of 'the converting or refrigeration chamber; gig. 4 is a section on line 1 4 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are vertical sections of converting chamber 5, ,diagrammatically illustrating successive stages in the process. Referring to the accompanying drawings, I provide a standard 1 and a base 2. The standardl', which is in the form of a vertical plate, carries the 'bearings for the operating parts of the machine and also Isupports converting chamber 5. Standard 1 is provided with an oset o'r horizontal arm 3,

which is secured the strap 4.* which engagea the lower end of the converting chamber 5..

the standar 'of rod 19 with lever 20, as

cylinder. The upper end of converting chamber 5 is secured to a lug 6 provided on the triangular bracket 7, which is formed preferably integral with the standard .1. Converting chamber 5 is open at each end. Its lower end is provided with ai outwardly beveled flange 56, as shown in Fig.'3, to provide a seat for the quick sealing cap 1,2. Cap 12 is suitably. mounted on the ivotal cap-applying device v8. My preferre method of mounting cap 12 on cap-applying device 8 consists in providing on cap'12 a reduced stem 16 which passes through the opening 17 in cap-applying device Sand is loosely held in place on that casting in suitable manner as by riveting it over.

The upper :face of the cap-applying device-` I'ni 8 is in the form of a discand is provided witha circular recess 11 to receive the pressure cap 12, as shown in Fig. 3. The cap 12 is provided with a beveled flange 13 which seats on the face 55 of fiange 56. I also provide a suitable resilient pressure ring 14, dis-- posed under fiange 13 which, when cap 12 is seated and further pressure is applied to member 8, provides a tight seal for the lower end of the converting chamber 5. Cap-ap-v plying device 8 isV provided with upper spaced lugs 9 by means of which it is swing- Referrin to Figs. 3. 5, 6, 7 and 8,1 proi vide a suita le piston 18, pivotally connected to the end/of a suitable piston .rod 19, the upper end of this rod 19 1n turn being pivotally connected to the oscillating lever 20, mounted in a bearing 21, carried by the upper endV of standard 1, as shown' in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. I rovide a suitable bearing 22, in

shaft 23 is a rotating arm or crank 24, to the outer end of'which a link 26 is operative] connected by the crank pin 25. Link 26 ls bfurcated near its outer end and its bifur-` cated end is connected b pivot 27 to oscil` lating lever 20 close to e own in Fig. 1. Near the upper end of chamber 5 and in hamber 5 preferably is in the form of a a plane just below 'that of the bottom of 1, and also provide a.Y crank- `shaft 23 in 'said bearing. Keyed to crank llivot connection s piston 18 when at the uppermost end of its stroke, as shown in Fig. I provide a series of apertures 28 constituting exhaust ports. Ports 28 open into a manifold 29 secured around the converting chamber 5, as shown in Fig. 1, and opening into pipe 30 which extends to a suitable carbon dioxide plant or'source'of supply Ofliquid carbon dioxide (not shown). I provide a supply pipe 31 of substantially smaller diameter than pipe 30 and arranged within that pipe. Pipe 31 follows down the lengthf of the chamber 5 to the exterior of which it may be secured-by suitable means such as bands 32. Pipe 31 is connected to a throttle valve 3 at the lower end of converting chamber. 5. This arrangement of the pipes and the chamber 5 has an advantage in that it functions to absorb lthe heat from the liquid or gas inliowing throughpipe 31 so that it is chilled before entering converting chamber 5. The valve 33 controls the inletvport 34 which is located at thebottom of converting chamber 5, just below the plane of the piston when at the lowermost en d of its stroke. Valve 33 is operated at redetermined intervals by means of a suita le lever 35 to which is connected a link or push rod 36, which in turn is connected to and operated by a suitable cam lever 37. Cam lever 37, as shown in Fig.

. 1, is mounted on the face of the standard "1, and is operated by asuitable cam roller 39 which iscarried by the crank 24 on the rear face thereof. Valve 33 is normally held closed by means of a suitable retaining s ring 38, preferably arranged as shown in ig. 1, attached to cam lever 37 and to the bracket 7. I provide suitable means, such as a plurality of apertures 40 in cam lever 37 any one of which may engage a lsuitable pin, for adjusting cam lever 37, permitting regulating the operationof the cam lever for proper timing of the operation of valve 33.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, I provide a toggle joint device having its lower member 42 pivotally connected by pivot 41to the depending lugs 15 ofthe cap-applying bracket 8; wh1le theupper toggle member 43 is suitably and pivotally mounted, as by stud 44, on the standard 1. The toggle members 42 and.43 are held under a predetermined and adjustable tension by a suitable spring 45,`

preferablyV mounted as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the pressure from within chamber 1 against cap 12 and` cap-applying device 8 necessaryto open/.the cap 12 may be regulated. This adjustment or regulation is con- `:trolled by a suitable set screw 46 through a stud47 on the standard 1. I

passing Pro' vide a suitable arm 48, which preferably is flexible, suitably alixed to the upper toggle member 43 and restinl on the stud 44. Flexiblearm 48 exten svupward into the ApathA of the rotating arm` 24and when op! erated by that arm `functions to reset the toggle members to the positions shown Fig. l.

Referring to Fig. 2, I provide a gear 49 Y mounted on crank shaft 23 at the ,opposite end thereof from crank 24, I also provide on standard 1 a stub shaft 51 carrying the pinion 50 which meshes with gear 49. I also provide a suitable flywheel 52 which also is mounted on stub shaft 51 and rotates with that shaft and with pinion 50.

The principal steps of my'process and the cycle of operation of my machine are illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. In Fig. 5 the piston 18 is shown almost at the downward limit of its movement. The sealing cap 12 has been released by the extreme pressure exerted by the piston on the compressed brick or cake of solid carbon dioxide which in turn presses on sealing cap 12\until it moves the cap-applying member 8 downwardly far enough to open the toggle joint 54 between members 42 and 43 against the tension of spring 45, whereupon the cap 12 swings out of the way and releases the cake of carbon dioxide. The tension `of spring 45 is suitably adjusted to prevent opening'of the toggle joint until the cake of solid car-4 bon dioxide has been compressed to a de.

sired and predetermined density. Just at the stage of the operation illustrated in Fig.

5 when the brick of compressed frozen car-l bon .dioxide is falling clear of sealing cap 12, the crank 24 strikes the -toggle-jointresetting arm 48 and causes the toggle joint members 43 and 42 to swing upwardly thus also swinging the cap-applying device 8 up- .wardly and reseating the sealing cap 12, -as shown in Figs. 67 and'8. Cam roller into chamber 5, forcing piston 18 upwardly i by the pressure of the liquid carbonrdioxide to about the position shown in Fig. 6, at

which position valve 33 is closed, the cam` roller 39 having passed cam lever 37. The spring` 38 acting on members 37, 36,a.nd 35 functions to shift valve 33 to closed position, shutting oi furtherl inflow of liquid carbon dioxide. Momentum has been stored in the y wheel 52;' and piston 18, upon which u there is still pressure from the ,vaporized carbon dioxide. ,continues on 'its u ward path. When piston 18 travels upwar from the approximate position shown iii-Fig. 6

it reduces the pressure on the liquid carbon dioxidein chamber 5., The liquid 'carbon .dioxide thereupon immediately boils, the

liquid receding as 1it evaporates to supply.

gas whichis expanding. and following the sure vof' the carbon' dioxide without danger i piston 18 tothe end of its path. The pres- 5 latent heat of the evaporation of the liquid carbon dioxide and from expansion of the resultant carbon dioxide gas as the .piston -v travels on its way upward. VThe abovevdescribed step of the process continues untily the piston 18 passes above openings 28. At that time all remaining pressure caused by the evaporating' carbon dioxide is quickly released by the escape of gas iiowing out through manifold 29 into heat exchange conduit 30 which conducts the gas back to the source of supply of carbon dioxide. such as a manufacturing plant (not shown), to be converted again to a liquid state for a repetition vof the process. In the process of the process of evaporation and expansion of gases takes place in a completely7 enclosed i chamber, allowing no part of the frozen' liquid be carbon dioxide' to escape from chamr 5. f Y Another valuable result of the novel meth- .od and machine disclosed is that alll of the power obtained by the energy exerted on Y the pistonlS and applied o1" transmitted through connecting rods and gearingop'erai tively connecting the piston18 to fly wheel -52 reresents just so many heat units remove froln the converting chamber 5, there- Vby converting a portion of the liquid car-f bon dioxide to snow and Vlowering the temvperature of the escaping carbon dioxide gas to be passed through the heat exchanger conduit 30, which will in-turnilower the temperature` of the incoming liquid carbon dioxide'in conduit 31,2a1'1dY make it possible to runthe machine at a lower `liquid presof. evaporation inthe conduitsleading to the A machine and of va. resultantpffree'zing of ice in these conduits by auchJ conversion. A greater lpercentage of snow vfrom a. given quantity of liquid carbon dioxide'isobtained I' by the proce and apparatus disclosed thanby other Amethodsn The pi o n'18fwhen in'theposition shown in Fig-Tis -to starton its return or downward stroke and continue downward driven by l8. At'this-stage of the operation of 65. the pressure of' the compressed of refrigeration above vdescribed a considerproces and apparatus is that the rst part "thgforce ofthe' energy stored in vily wheel 52, about the position shown in cake of 'solid carbon dioxide on sealing cap' 12 and cap applying member 8 will throw the toggle joint 54 of members 4:2 and 43 oi center and discharge the compressed lcake of carbon dioxide as shown in Fig. 5. The process and cycle of operation above described will then be repeatedwith a resultant compression of carbon dioxide snow into a compact solid mass which is ejectedfrom the converting chamber at the end of 'each cycle. f

It is within the contemplation of my invention to modify the timing of 'the cam lever 37 to actuate the intake valve 33 after the piston 18 has traveled a considerable dista-nce on its way upward in chamber 5 so as to admit the liquid carbon dioxide into a partial` vacuum caused by such travel of the piston. The liquid thus being admitted into a vacuum will turn a greater portion of its volume to snow because it does not have to displace atmospheric pressure. The heat `of displacing atmospheric pressure is the 'tem saved by this arrangement ofthe mechanism. Y

The term carbon dioxide snow or snow is to be construed as applying to the light porous product produced by the refrigeration beore it is vcompressed into a dense mass, as used in this specification.

The phrase reducing pressure in the chamber as used in the succeedin claims is to be construed broadly as ap toany operative method and means or re ieving' or reducing the ressure .on liquid carbon dioxide supplied to a, chamber under pressure, whether by utilizing the ener of ico the expansion of gas from the liquid 1n a pressure chamber to drive or to continue to drive a movable element such as a piston and thus increase the capacity of such a chamber or whether by other means (not Illustrated) for' releasing or reducing ressure in thchamber into which the hquid carbon dioxide is conducted under pressure, such as' a valve controlled passage adapted to'be iopenedi'to allow. the portlon of the liquid carbon dioxide which vaporizes to escape rapidly from the chamber while the remaining portion is refrigerated to snow.

It is of course ,within the contemplation of my invention to -use any suitable apparatus for carrying out the -steps of the refrigeration process which I have invented as defined generally in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is: v 4

1. A process4 for converting liquid carbon dioxide into -a solid' for refrigeration land other purposes, consisting nin conducting liquid carbon dioxide into a chamber under sufficient pressure to cause it to remain a liquid'while being admitted; reducing the pressure inside the chamber and thereby coniro p possible.

ing the carbon dioxide which has reverted to a gas; and compressing the carbon dioxide `snow into a compact dense mass.

2. A process for converting liquid carbon dioxide into carbon dioxide snowfor r e frlgeration and other purposes; consisting 1n `conducting liquid carbon dioxide into a chamber under suliicient ressure to cause it to remain a liquid whi e being admitted; and reducing the pressure inside the cham-v ber and thereby convertingv a portion of the liquid carbon dioxideinto a snow-like condition. i

3. A process for converting liquid 'carbon dioxide into a Solid for refrigeration and other purposes, consisting in conducting the liy uid carbon dioxide into achamber under state; and utilizing the cold gaseous carbon dioxide to absorb heat from the liquid carbon dioxide which is being conducted into the chamber under.pressure to permit the above described step of converting li uid carbon'dioxide into snow being accomplis 'ed at a lower pressure than would otherwise be 4. vA process for convertin liquid carbon `dioxide into a soli-d for re rigera'tion'and other pur oses, consisting in conducting the liquid car on dioxide into a chamber at such pressure and temperature as to cause it' to remain a liquid to ll a predetermined portion of the chamber; Yextending the volume of the chamber to lower the pressure exerted by the liquid; permitting the liquid carbon dioxide to evaporate and expand to cause refrigeration both by the' latent heat of evaporation and by the expanding gas simult-aneously and thereby producing carbon di- 1 oxide snow; transferring energy from with- Yin the chamber to machinery outside the chamber; removing heat represented by such energy and thereby increasing the amount of refrigeration possible; and periodically returning ener y from the machinery outside the cham er and utilizing it to compress the carbon dioxide snow in the chamer to a compact and dense mass.

5. A process for converting liquid carbon dioxide into a solid for refrigeration and other purposes, consisting in conducting liqe uid carbon dioxide into a chamber under pressure; rapidly reducing the pressure and thereby converting a portion'of the liquid carbon dioxide into a snow-like condition; withdrawing the portion of the carbon dioxide which has reverted to a gaseous state ;'l

conducting said gaseous carbon dioxide 6. A process for continuously converting liquid carbon dioxide into a solid for refrlg-` eration and other purposes, conslsting 1n conducting the liquid carbon dioxide into a p chamber under'pressure; rapidly extending'so the volume of the chamber and thereby reducing the pressure and temperature to cony vert a portion of the liquidccarbon dioxide into snow; withdrawing a portion of the carbon dioxide which has reverted to a gas; utilizing the lowered temperature of the carbon dioxide whichv has lpassed throughthe above steps to absorb heat from the liquid carbon dioxide which is being intermittently conducted into the chamber under pressure; mechanically transferring the energy exerted by the expanding liquid carbon dioxide to a rotating mechanical element; and utilizing the energy ofthe momentum acquired by said rotating element to automatically control a predetermined intermittent admission of the liquid carbon dioxide into theA chamber under pressure for continuously carrying out successive cycles of the above described refrigeration process.

7. In an apparatus for converting liquid carbon dioxide to a solid for refrigeration and other purposes,l the combination of' a converting chamber, a Valve controlled conduit for `conducting liquid carbon dioxide into said converting chamber under pres; sure, a tight-sealing cap removably seated on one end of the converting chamber, a piston slidably Amounted in the converting chamber arranged to permit of expansion o the liquid carbon, dioxidein said chamber and rapid reduction of pressure upon same to convert a portion of it 'to a snow-like condition, a ily wheel, means operatively connecting the piston with the iy wheel and converting the force applied by the piston on said means into power converted to momentum of the driven Hy wheel, means normally holding'the sealing cap in sealing position, means for adjusting and'supporting said sealing cap to withstand apredeter-- mined pressure -from within the converting chamber and adapted to release the sealing' cap and discharge Ithe contents of the chamber when said pressure is exceeded, and a controlling member arranged to intermittentlyv operate the sealing cap at'. 1 5redet e.r mined intervals to reseat same; said con' trolling member being operatively connected with and actuated bythe above mentioned i means actuated by said piston, Vand means actuated by the said controlling member to open and close the valve in the valve-controlled'conduit through which liquid carbon dioxide is admitted into the converting chamber at predetermined intervals.

v8. In an apparatus for converting liquid carbon dioxide to a solid for refrigeration and other purposes, the combination of a converting chamber, a conduit for conducting liquid carbon dioxide into said converting chamber under pressure, Aa valve in said conduit, a tight sealing cap removably seated on and adapted to tightly seal one end of the converting chamber, a piston slidably mounted in and sealing the other end of the converting chamber,` said piston permitting of expansion of the liquid carbon dioxide in the chamber and permitting rapid reduction of pressure on the liquid carbon dioxide to convert a portion of it to a snow-like condition, a iiy Wheel', a series of members operativelyv connecting the piston with the ily Wheel and converting the force applied by the piston on the said series of members into power converted to momentum of the driven ily Wheel, means for the discharge from thev lce y tion of temperaturey b `liquid carbon dioxide is conducted converting chamber of carbon dioxide which has reverted to a gaseous state after each refrigeration operation, a springcontrolled toggle joint device normally holding the sealimg cap in sealing position, means for adjusting said toggle joint device to withstand a predetermined pressure applied from' within the converting chamber on the sealing' cap and to release the sealing cap when said pressure. is exceeded to discharge the cake of solid carbon dioxide ormedin the converting chamber, and a rotating arm opera-i tively connected with and actuated by the series of membersconnected with the piston, said rotating arm being suitably arranged to reset the toggle joint device and reseat the sealing cap on the converting chamber at predetermined intervals, and means actuated by the aforesaid mechanism at predetermined intervals to open and closethe valve in thev conduit through which into the converting chamber.

- v9. In combination with the apparatus described in claim 6, the conduit through which the liquid carbon dioxide'is conducted into the converting chamber being arranged in contact-with the exterior wall of the converting chamber, whereby the reducthe refrigeration in the converting cham er will absorb heat from the liquid carbon dioxide flowing to saidl chamber through the adjacently positioned conduit and thereby permit of per forming the refrigeration witha lower pressureof the liquidcarbon dioxide within the converting chamber than would otherwise be possible.

10. In combination with the apparatus de-` 'scribed in claim 8, means for adjusting the mechanism actuated by the rotating varm to open and close the valveinY the conduit through which'liquid carbon dioxide admitted into the converting .chamber to permit of adjusting the timing ofthe opera tion of said valve relatively to the operation of the mechanism which reseats the' sealing cap. v

l1. A process for converting. liquid carbon dioxide into a solid for refgrigeration and' other purposes, consistingf in conducting liquid carbon dioxide intoa variablecapac ity chamber under pressure; applying the .energy of the'inflowing liquid carbon dioxide on a movable element; stopping the inflow of liquid carbon dioxide .into said chamber at a predetermined time; utilizing tervals of fresh charges of liquid' carbondioxide in the variable capacity chamber.

12. A process for convertingliquid carbon dioxide into a solid for refrigeration and other purposes, consisting in conducting" liquid carbon dioxide into a chamber under.

pressure, extending the capacity of said chamber under the pressurecof the inilowing liquid carbon dioxide and applying the energy of the inowing liquid carbonzdioxide on a movable element; stopping the inflow of liquid carbon dioxide into the chamber at a predetermined time; utilizing the pressure produced by the expansion of thev as evaporating from the-,liquid carbon 'oxide to operate the movable element to the end of its stroke or path; utilizing both the latent heat of vaporization and the reduction of heat by expansion of the gas simultaneously to convert a large portion of the liquid carbon dioxide in the chamber to snow; Withdraw-v ing from the chamber thel ortion of the liquid carbon dioxide which as vaporized; applying the energy stored in the movable element to.v mechanically control the intake Vof fresh charges of liquid carbon dioxidein the above described chamber; and alternately transferring ener' from 4the'piston to 'a rotating element an from said rotating element back to the piston -at predetermined timesi to com ress -the refrigeratedt .carbon dioxide to av ense solid mass.:

dioxide om liquid into solid form, comprising an expansible chamber, means for admitting a charge of liquid carbon dioxide under pressure thereto whereby the liquid will evaporate' and the gas expand with resultant refrigerating effect and the formation of snow, means for absorbing the work `done by the pressure of the admitted liquid and expanding gas in expanding the chamber and storing said energy, and means for applying said energy to compress the said snow into solid form.

14. Apparatus for converting carbon dioxide from liquid into solid formfcomprising an expansible chamber, means for admitting 13. Apfparatus for converting carbon a charge of lliquid carbon dioxide under pressure thereto whereby the liquid will evaporate and the gas expand with resulta-nt refrigerating effect and the formation of snow, means for absorbing the work done bythe pressure of the admitted liquid and expanding gas in expanding the .chamber and storing said energy, and means Afor applying said energy to compress the said snow into solid form and valve means operated thereby to control the admission of the liquid and means operated by said energy to open the chamber and cause the ejection of the solid carbon dioxide.

y THOMAS B. SLATE. 

